Best Tent Camping near Butler, MO

Tent campsites in the Butler, Missouri area primarily consist of established campgrounds with limited amenities. Nearby options include Farrington City Park in Windsor, which offers tent camping facilities, and Prospect City Park, located approximately 15 miles southeast of Butler. Additional tent camping can be found at Windsor Crossing Park in Clinton and Caplinger Mills Park near Stockton. The region features primarily flat terrain with some rolling hills, typical of western Missouri's landscape.

Most tent sites in the area require campers to bring their own water and supplies, as drinking water is not commonly available at these campgrounds. Farrington City Park provides sanitary dump facilities but lacks electric hookups, showers, or toilets. Similarly, Prospect City Park and other nearby tent camping areas offer minimal infrastructure. Sites are generally on grass or dirt surfaces with drive-in access. Many campgrounds permit pets, though Prospect City Park does not allow animals. Fire restrictions vary by location and season, with several parks prohibiting open fires entirely.

Tent campers visiting the Butler region can expect a quiet experience away from heavily developed areas. The campgrounds offer proximity to local lakes and streams, providing opportunities for fishing and water recreation. Farrington City Park in particular receives positive feedback for its maintenance and peaceful setting. A camper noted, "The camping area is near a road, so there was some light traffic overnight, but it was not distracting to sleep. The park itself is well-maintained, and the staff is very helpful and friendly." Fall and spring typically offer the most comfortable tent camping conditions, with summer months occasionally bringing high humidity and heat. Most tent camping locations have minimal tree cover, characteristic of the region's prairie-influenced landscape.

Best Tent Sites Near Butler, Missouri (7)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Butler, MO

190 Reviews of 7 Butler Campgrounds


  • Jordan B.
    Jun. 7, 2020

    Louisburg Middle Creek State Fishing Lake

    Peaceful near KC

    I car camped here for one night early this spring and will definitely come here again. There was a big RV parked next to me, some other car campers, and then a group of tent campers. The sites are right on the lake and the vault toilet was clean. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring and they are spaced out nicely. There was a decent amount of traffic to and from the floating boat dock but it still wasn’t too noisy.

  • D
    Jul. 1, 2022

    Raccoon Ridge — Harry S Truman State Park

    Shaded, Quiet and close to the lake!

    Site 36 with 30A & 120V. Public Water Spigot about 50’ away. No Sewer or Water connections at Raccoon Ridge. Plenty of dead kindling and wood around to burn. Asphalt drive with concrete pad. Picnic table, fire/grill ring, hook post w/ recycle bag attached. BEST Site is 38 which puts trailer door parallel with a 180 lake view. Heavy wooded with shared paths to lake or cove. Marina is within 1 mile by water or 15 minutes by car. Ice, Beer and necessities at Puddle Jumpers Bait Store about 10 minute drive. Hosts were great and did cleaning daily. Showers and Dump Station at top of hill few hundred yards away. Let shower water run about 3 minutes before the warm water kicks in. Swim beach is on other side of cove or about a 5 min drive. Dump Station has 4 Waste Holes, two Non-potable water spigots/hoses and one Fresh Potable Water hose and both sides have slight incline on dump tank side. Downtown Warsaw is about 15 minutes away with tourist antique shoppes, bars, ice cream shoppes and the historic Joe Dice Suspension Bridge. The Truman Dam is about same distance away. T-Mobile service with 2-3 bars, no WIFI; but HotSpot worked for ROKU. Keep food and bait inside as raccoons rule at night. Be CAUTIOUS of Red Ticks that are VERY tiny… you’ll want plenty of DEET! Flies were biting like crazy, some mosquitoes and LOTS of May Flies. You’ll see Bald Eagles, raccoons. deer, squirrels, chipmunks, hawks, turtles and FISHING near wooded edge of cove is Bass and Crappie haven!!! Also Geocaching near by!!!

    We will return and hopefully get site 38!

  • Joe G.
    Jun. 29, 2022

    COE Harry S Truman Reservoir Long Shoal Park

    Great Place

    Just got back after 2 days there.  Sites are spaced a good distance apart, nice clean lots with fire ring, picnic table and 30 amp.  The flush restrooms are cleaned everyday and very nice.  I picked site 69 which overlooks the lake and was less than 30 yards from water edge.  Site very from 100% sun to 100% shade so you have a lot to choose from.  Highly recommend it to anyone will will be back soon.

  • Laura H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 23, 2020

    Sunflower Campground — Hillsdale State Park

    Very Clean and Very Relaxing

    The Park: We love this park, it’s massive, and really pretty. They have so much to do (listed below). Sunflower Loop is our favorite and has full hookups. There are more primitive loops as well. It is ADA accessible. There was not a tornado shelter as of 2018. This is one thing that should be mandatory given its proximity and being further away from potential shelter. Excellent camping on the lake. Lots of water activities available.

    Sites: level, clear, easily accessible. Sunflower loop is widely spaced and plenty of room for larger RVs.

    Cellular: decent cellular signal.

    Amenities: Amphitheater Bath House Bicycling Boat Ramp Boating Canoeing Kayaking Campground Host Camping, Equestrian Camping, Improved Site Camping, Primitive Church Comfort Station Dock, Boat Dump Station, Camper Dump Station, Marina Fire Rings Fishing, Park Lake Fuel, Boats Golf Grills Gun Range Hiking Hiking Trail Horseback Riding Hunting Information Booth Jet Skiing Laundry Marina Mountain/Trail Bicycling Park Lake Parking Picnic Area Picnic Shelter Picnic Tables Playground Rentals, Boat, Motorized Rentals, Jet Skis Reservoir Restrooms Shelters Showers Skiing - Water Swimming, Park Lake Telephone Toilet, Pit/Vault Trails, Bicycle Trails, Equestrian Trails, Hiking/Walking, Easy Trails, Mountain Bike Walking Water Access, Park Lake Water Skiing

  • Mark D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 25, 2025

    Montrose Missouri Conservation Area Dispersed Camping

    Enjoyed Our Stay

    Large grass area available for tents or campers. No specific camp locations. No fire rings or picnic tables. Pit toilets are as expected.

    Shallow muddy water but it does attract wildlife. A bit of road noise but tolerable. Perfect for our one night stay.

  • Leni K.
    Apr. 7, 2024

    Wild Turkey Ridge — Harry S Truman State Park

    In The Thick of Nature, Great Tent Camping Off Season

    We came just at the start of season, so we took advantage of a family spot to relax and get some extra privacy. There were maybe 5 other campers in Wild Ridge, and it was a ridge coming in, narrow roads leading into the peninsula.

    Vault toilets were well kept, and well light at night.

    We hiked to check out the other campsites that were also well spaced for privacy.

    There was a desire line down to the lake, with a rocky shore to walk, the beaches themselves a bit wider.

    We had a nice clearing to set up at our location, likely used for a second tent that lended well to privacy.

  • Devin M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 9, 2022

    Sparrowfoot

    Beautiful and quiet

    This campsite is beautiful. Loop B is much quieter with fewer guests. Loop A is a little more busy. Loop A: 2 smaller loops of campsites. A17,18,19 are very close to a little walkway that goes down to the lake. These spots are very hot and sunny in the morning, but shaded in the afternoon. Loop A has 1 set of nonflushable toilets that were surprisingly clean. Loop B: this is where the shower house and flushable toilets are. Showers were clean and water was hot. Showers had good water pressure. Loop B also has the playground which is right behind site B47. It’s a newer playground and all equipment was nicely maintained. There are no swings. Only complaint is that there are no benches or picnic tables at the playground so bring your camping chair if you plan to stay awhile. Further past Loop B the road turns to gravel and there is a parking lot with a walkway to the lake. This offers some small bluffs with deep water for jumping off. If you walk further around the corner to the right, it turns into a nicer “beach” style area with few rocks, although the mud can be a little thick after it rains. When we were here (July) the lake was pretty muddy but I’m not sure if it’s always that way or not. It was also pretty low, but still had plenty of fun and kayaked through all the little coves.

  • Dare To Everywhere  .The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 26, 2020

    COE Harry S Truman Reservoir Long Shoal Park

    Great views, nice sites, okay amenities.

    Stayed 7/22/200 - $15/night

    Site 97

    Lake-view sites, beaches, flush toilets and showers, all for$15/night. Don’t have super high expectations.

    PROS:

    Great sites on the water. Good space with picnic table and fire rings with a grate. Site 97 was on a corner, with a neighbor to one side, and lots of space between sites to the other.

    CONS:

    Showers aren’t great. Cobwebs and mold. First door didn’t even lock. Wide gaps with no curtain. No soap in bathrooms.(During COVID). Can’t expect much for$15/night, but bathrooms/showers were disappointing.

    You can setup in the grass, right by the water and enjoy the beach. The ranger also told us of beach access just outside the park, across the street. Bathroom/shower house was a bit of a walk from our site, but nothing crazy. Worth it for the views. No problems with AT&T cell service.

  • A
    Jun. 15, 2019

    Longview Campground

    Spacious spaces

    Spent 1 night at Longview Campground as we get used to our new-to-us pop up. We were in spot 43. Electric only 50/30. Our spot had good shade in the afternoon but most did not so check the website’s descriptions. Plenty of room to spread out, fire ring and picnic table. Long walk to the bathroom, even longer walk to the showers. We camp with our dogs and there were plenty of others also. One particularly rude neighbor, let theirs bark all night long.


Guide to Butler

Tent camping near Butler, Missouri primarily consists of rural campgrounds with basic facilities located within small parks and recreation areas. The region sits at elevations ranging from 700 to 900 feet above sea level, with summer temperatures averaging 85-90°F and winter lows often below freezing. Most camping locations are situated near small lakes or reservoirs that were created for flood control and recreation purposes throughout Missouri's western plains.

What to do

**Fishing opportunities: **Tent campers at Farrington City Park in Windsor can fish in the adjacent lake, which is stocked with bass and catfish. The shoreline is accessible directly from the camping area, making it convenient for morning fishing sessions. As one visitor notes, "It was early spring, so I had the campground to myself. The park itself is well-maintained, and the staff is very helpful and friendly."

Hiking trails: Several primitive paths surround Caplinger Mills Park near Stockton, approximately 35 miles south of Butler. These unmarked trails follow the Sac River and provide opportunities for wildlife viewing, particularly deer and waterfowl in early morning hours. The terrain is mostly flat with occasional gentle slopes, making the trails suitable for beginners and families.

Water recreation: Shawnee Bend in Warsaw offers tent sites near Truman Lake, approximately 40 miles from Butler. Swimming is permitted in designated areas from May through September, though no lifeguards are present. Boat rentals are available at nearby marinas for $20-30 per hour, providing access to the lake's 55,600 acres of water.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: Tent campers appreciate the spacious layout at Windsor Crossing Park in Clinton, where camping spots are separated by approximately 50-75 feet. This arrangement allows for quiet camping experiences even when multiple sites are occupied. The grassy areas provide flat terrain for tent setup, though stakes may be difficult to secure during dry periods when the ground hardens.

Budget-friendly options: Most tent camping locations near Butler require no reservation fees or have minimal costs between $5-15 per night. Prospect City Park offers no-fee camping on a first-come basis, though facilities are limited. Campers should bring water supplies as drinking water is not available on site.

Stargazing conditions: The minimal light pollution in the Butler region creates excellent night sky viewing opportunities. The open areas at Farrington City Park provide unobstructed views of constellations and occasional meteor showers. The best viewing occurs between 10PM and 2AM, particularly during new moon phases when skies are darkest.

What you should know

Limited facilities: Most tent camping areas near Butler lack modern amenities. While Rabbit Ridge Primitive Campground at Hillsdale State Park (about 60 miles northwest) offers more developed facilities with showers and toilets, most local options have minimal infrastructure. Campers should pack sufficient water, as potable sources are scarce at most sites.

Seasonal considerations: Spring camping (April-May) often brings unpredictable weather with sudden thunderstorms. Summer months (June-August) typically feature high humidity levels between 70-90% and temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F. Fall (September-October) offers the most comfortable camping conditions with cooler temperatures and lower precipitation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Butler, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Butler, MO is Prospect City Park with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Butler, MO?

TheDyrt.com has all 7 tent camping locations near Butler, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.